Social Worker with a 2' by 4'

In the mid-eighties, Dade County, Florida established the first drug court in the United States. As a local judge in Rockland County, NY, Charles Apotheker was originally opposed to the concept. However, despite his doubts, he decided to preside over the Drug Court in his community, not really knowing if it worked. After a few months it was clear— Drug Courts work.

"Social Worker with a 2' by 4'" is both a memoir about his life and the collected knowledge Judge Apotheker gained (and imparted) about criminal justice, addiction, sobriety, recovery and unfortunately, death during the opiate epidemic.

Born near the Sedgwick projects in the southwest Bronx, the author tells a true story of an ordinary kid from a middle class family, educated in the public schools, a victim of sexual abuse as a young teenager by a prominent doctor, going to college in the morning while driving a mail truck afternoons, evenings and weekends, Basic Training in Fort Polk, LA in the summer of 1969, law school, marriage, moving to the suburbs, children, starting a legal career as an Assistant County Attorney, going to the US Supreme Court, and becoming a judge at 33 years old. 

“If you told me growing up that one day I would be in a position to help hundreds of addicts in the criminal justice system find recovery and lead normal lives, I would wonder what you were smoking”. 

Letters sent from jail and from grateful Drug Court graduates contrasted with the tragedies which addiction is so aptly capable of, form the outline of this memoir. These letters and stories shed light and information about how drug court works, how difficult recovery is, and how a judge, acting more like a social worker, uses his training and talent to change behavior; sometimes with the help of that figurative 2’ by 4’.

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I have visited many drug courts across the country. Everyone is different. Each one reflects the community it serves, the drugs abused, the availability of treatment providers, and many other individual characteristics that the drug court team need to take into consideration in designing and running a special court of this nature. 

When I first visited Judge Apotheker’s Court, for a graduation ceremony, I could tell that the magic ingredient was his passion, dedication, and sensitivity. Not only was he considerate of the struggles his participants faced but he had surrounded himself with a team of professionals who had created an inspiring program. The Rockland Drug Treatment Court offered meaningful help in an atmosphere of sincere concern while promoting accountability and honesty. 

Watching Judge Apotheker interact with his participants was eye opening. He seemed to know each one, was familiar with their story, and was able to motivate them to want to do better. Clearly something in his own background prepared him to know the right thing to say to each one. Having now read the story of his experiences, I better understand the influences which made him such an exceptional Drug Court Judge. 

Judge Jo Ann Ferdinand, Brooklyn, NY Drug Treatment Court (Ret).

Charles Apotheker was born in the Bronx, NY, attended local public schools, graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, CCNY, and St. John's University Law School. Judge Apotheker is also an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve. Judge Apotheker was a Rockland County Assistant County Attorney from 1974 to 2003 and appeared before the NYS Appellate Division's Second and Third Departments, the New York State Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts, and the United States Supreme Court. Judge Apotheker was elected town justice of the Town of Haverstraw in 1979 and served for 27 consecutive years. He was appointed as Rockland County's Misdemeanor Drug Court judge in March 2000 and served in that capacity until February 2002, when Rockland's Drug Court was transferred to the county court. In 2004, Judge Apotheker was appointed to the faculty of the National Drug Court Institute. Since that time, he has mentored numerous Drug Court teams throughout the United States and has been a peer reviewer for Drug Court-related grant applications for the Bureau of Justice Affairs of the United States Department of Justice. In 2006, Judge Apotheker was elected as Rockland County Court judge. He was soon appointed as an acting justice of the Supreme Court and was appointed as Rockland's Felony Drug Court judge. During his 10 year term, the population of Rockland's Drug Court rose from approximately 40 participants to nearly 100 and the minority population in Drug Court significantly increased, reflecting the diversity of Rockland County.